Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

Inside the management office, Chen Yi placed a jade slip on the table and pushed it in front of Li Yuan.

"The sect has delivered on its promise: a complete Core Formation manual." Chen Yi leaned back in his chair. "You handled the mission in Mozhou beautifully; the higher-ups are very satisfied."

Li Yuan picked up the jade slip; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, much heavier than the rubbing he had exchanged at the trade fair.

Thank you.

After returning to the stone house, Li Yuan sealed the doors and windows, sat down at the table, and probed the jade slip with his divine sense.

A massive amount of information flooded into my mind instantly.

This complete version of the classic text is far more detailed than the previous rubbings. The rubbings only recorded the general principles of elixir formation and a few practice routes, while this classic text starts from the most basic theory and progresses layer by layer, covering almost all the experience summaries of elixir formation by the predecessors of the Yuanyang Sect throughout the ages.

Li Yuan spent three whole hours reading the book from beginning to end.

The core content can be summarized into several points.

First, the essence of the Golden Elixir.

Essence, Qi, and Spirit unite to form the Golden Core. After the Golden Core is formed, it becomes the cultivator's true form. All essence, Qi, and Spirit are compressed and sealed within that core, while the physical body takes a backseat, becoming merely a container and vessel for the Golden Core.

In other words, a Foundation Establishment cultivator's true form is a human body, while a Golden Core cultivator's true form is a core.

The ancient texts use a vivid metaphor: the Foundation Establishment stage is like a water vat filled with water; the physical body is the vat, and spiritual energy is the water. The Golden Core stage, however, is like fusing the vat and the water into a single bead. The bead is everything.

Second, the grade of the Golden Elixir.

It is divided into four grades: Supreme, Superior, Middle, and Inferior. The grade depends entirely on the degree of fusion of essence, qi, and spirit at the moment of core formation, as well as the total quantity of essence, qi, and spirit. The higher the degree of fusion, the deeper the foundation, and the better the quality of the golden core. Subsequent cultivation speed, combat power ceiling, and even the success rate of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage will be vastly different.

If any of the three has a significant weakness, it will drag down the overall integration.

Third, auxiliary methods.

There are many ways to increase the success rate of Core Formation. Protective elixirs can prevent meridians from shattering during Core Formation, formations that stabilize the dantian can slow down the intensity of spiritual energy surges, and mind-concentrating elixirs can help cultivators maintain clear consciousness at the crucial moment of Core Formation.

However, these methods only focus on success rate, not quality.

External materials that can truly enhance the quality of a Golden Core are extremely rare, and their prices are exorbitantly high. Ancient texts list several known rare and precious materials, each with a market price starting at a thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

Fourth, lifespan.

Upon reaching the Core Formation stage, a cultivator's remaining lifespan doubles, and they also gain an additional fixed lifespan. The reference values ​​given in ancient texts are that the total lifespan of a Core Formation cultivator is typically between five hundred and eight hundred years.

But the most crucial sentence was highlighted separately by the author of the classic text with great emphasis.

When a cultivator's total lifespan reaches one thousand years, their life level will undergo a transformation.

Li Yuan put down the jade slip and closed his eyes to digest it for a moment.

My current lifespan is 380 years.

The natural lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is far less than this number. These 380 years are the total amount he accumulated through a combination of longevity pills, attribute effects, body-refining techniques, and other means.

We're still twenty years away from reaching four hundred.

Li Yuan memorized the number and continued to peruse the latter half of the text.

The last chapter is dedicated to the topic of one's natal magical artifact.

Ancient texts suggest that cultivators should forge their natal magic weapon before forming their core. The reason is simple: at the moment of core formation, one's essence, energy, and spirit undergo a violent explosion. If the natal magic weapon is nearby to absorb the aftershocks of this explosion, it can leverage this momentum to elevate the weapon's quality to a higher level.

However, the text then adds a specific warning: Foundation Establishment cultivators have extremely limited ability to nurture magical artifacts, so there's no need to pursue high-quality materials for their natal magical artifacts. The important thing is to complete the refinement of essence and blood before forming the core, allowing the magical artifact to achieve a preliminary resonance with oneself.

Li Yuan closed the jade slip.

The general direction for Core Formation is now clear. The cultivation of essence, energy, and spirit, the development of natal magical artifacts, and the acquisition of auxiliary spiritual medicines will proceed along three parallel lines.

He put the jade slip deep into his storage bag and walked out of the stone house to the management office.

Chen Yi is still alive.

However, this time his face did not show any worry, but rather a rare sense of relaxation.

"I have good news." Chen Yi poured two cups of tea and pushed one of them in front of Li Yuan. "A large chamber of commerce is coming soon. They have already settled in Yunyang Market and will be coming to Wulin Market in a few days."

"How large is it?"

"The Golden Core Elder is personally leading the team." Chen Yi held up one finger. "There are seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators under his command to manage the specific business, and a group of affiliated itinerant merchants are also following along."

Li Yuan picked up his teacup.

It's uncommon for Golden Core cultivators to personally lead trade caravans in border regions. Most caravans are led by late Foundation Establishment cultivators; those who can get a Golden Core cultivator to take charge must be driven by substantial profits.

"Where did it come from?"

"Jingzhou," Chen Yi said. "Jingzhou is east of Yunzhou and borders Mozhou. The situation there is much more stable than in Liangzhou, and resources are more abundant. This chamber of commerce specializes in navigating the border route, transporting goods from Jingzhou and Yunzhou to Liangzhou."

Li Yuan quickly sketched out the geographical relationships in his mind. To the north of Liangzhou is Yunzhou, and further east of Yunzhou is Jingzhou, which borders Mozhou to the east of Liangzhou. This merchant guild follows an arc-shaped route, starting from Jingzhou, passing through the border of Yunzhou, and selling all the way to Liangzhou.

"It's impossible for a Golden Core cultivator to personally squat at a stall and sell things," Li Yuan said.

Chen Yi chuckled.

"Of course not. Golden Core cultivators are responsible for maintaining order, negotiating large-scale transactions, and inter-state transportation. Foundation Establishment cultivators below them are responsible for managing the buying and selling of various goods, and those below them in the Qi Refining stage are just errand runners and stall managers."

He paused.

"In reality, the whole business guild is just one person running it. With a storage bag on their back, a Golden Core cultivator can carry the goods of an entire caravan by themselves. But selling things takes time, and a Golden Core cultivator can't possibly lower themselves to haggle with a Qi Refining stage cultivator, so they have to support a group of people. In addition, with the connection of supply chains in various places and the participation of itinerant merchants, the business guild naturally formed."

Li Yuan wrote down this information.

A large chamber of commerce means a large supply of goods. He was worried about the unstable supply chain of basic talisman paper and mid-grade spirit ink. If he could establish a long-term cooperation with this chamber of commerce, many problems would be solved.

"I'll personally negotiate with the Chamber of Commerce once they arrive," Li Yuan said, putting down his teacup.

Chen Yi nodded and added, "After the Golden Core Elder arrives at Yunyang Market, the Yuanyang Sect will arrange for his reception. Shopkeeper Li only needs to show up; there's no need for special hospitality."

After leaving the management office, Li Yuan did not go to the spirit field or the mine, but went straight back to the stone house.

The doors and windows were sealed off, and the wooden tub for the medicinal bath was moved to the center of the room.

He took out several bottles of potent medicine specifically for stimulating the muscles and bones from his storage bag and poured them all into the bucket. The medicine immediately boiled and emitted a pungent, spicy odor upon contact with the water.

Li Yuan took off his outer robe and stepped into the medicinal bath.

The scalding medicinal power instantly seeped into his skin, penetrating deeper into the tendons along the muscle fibers. He circulated his Golden Body Technique, his spiritual energy flowing along the technique's pathways to every joint of his bones and tendons.

The effects of the "Consolidating Essence and Veins" skill also came into play, and the resilient membrane on the inner wall of the meridians greatly alleviated the damage caused by the spiritual energy impact, allowing him to withstand a more intense breakthrough.

First attempt.

Spiritual energy surged into the junction of his left scapula and collarbone, stretching the tendons to their limit under its crushing force. A muffled thud resounded from deep within the bones, but the spiritual energy was repelled at the last moment.

failure.

Li Yuan remained expressionless, and after a moment of meditation, he began the second round.

This time, he changed his strategy, no longer focusing on attacking a single node, but instead simultaneously channeling his spiritual energy into all the tendon nodes throughout his body. The potent medicinal power of the bath formed a scorching layer on his skin, pressing the tendons to their limits from the outside in.

A series of muffled cracking sounds emanated from dozens of joints throughout the body.

The tendons trembled incessantly under the combined attack of spiritual power and medicinal effects, enduring the extreme strain.

failure.

The third time, the fourth time.

Each time Li Yuan attempted to break through a barrier, he fine-tuned the distribution of his spiritual energy and the rhythm of his attacks.

the fifth time.

Spiritual energy surged into every joint and bone in the body like a tidal wave. The Qi-strengthening and meridian-condensing techniques firmly protected the meridians, while the medicinal bath provided a continuous stream of medicinal power from the outside.

"Click-clack-click-clack".

A series of muffled cracking sounds from the joints spread from the head and neck all the way down to the ankles.

At the same moment, all the tendons in the body broke through their limits, and spiritual energy flowed through them, leaving irreversible strengthening marks deep in the fibers of every tendon.

A panel pops up.

[Golden Body Skill: Proficient (0/400)]

Li Yuan slowly stood up from the medicinal bath, the murky liquid sliding down his muscle lines.

His tendons were throbbing slightly, the residual heat from the spiritual energy he had been enhanced by. He clenched his fist, feeling the explosive power he felt was even more intense than before.

At this point, all four body-refining techniques had been mastered or were at least proficient.

He has perfected the Nameless Body Refining Technique, mastered the Iron Wall Body Refining Technique, and is proficient in the Mysterious Iron Bone Forging Technique and the Golden Body Skill.

The flesh, skin, bone marrow, and tendons—all four dimensions of the physical body—have been opened up and reached a considerable level.

Li Yuan changed into a clean Taoist robe and poured out the waste liquid from the medicinal bath.

As soon as he opened the door of the stone house, a steward from the management office rushed over.

"Master Li, the Yuan Yang Sect has issued a new acquisition task."

The steward handed over a jade slip.

Li Yuan took it and probed it with his divine sense.

The task is simple: collect a batch of specific array auxiliary materials and mineral materials, submit them in accordance with quantity and quality, and settle accounts with contribution points.

His gaze swept over the list of materials, and he paused for a moment.

Of the more than ten materials listed, seven were exactly the same as the Dark Abyss's collection targets that he had previously deciphered from the intelligence of the mole.

Li Yuan put away the jade slip, his expression unchanged.

"understood."

The deacon turned and left.

Li Yuan stood at the entrance of the stone house, watching the bustling scene of people coming and going on the main street of the market, his gaze calm.

The Yuan Yang Sect and the Dark Abyss Society are vying for the same thing.